Lake Albacutya
(Ngelbakutya)
Lake Albacutya(Ngelbakutya) is located in Victoria
Lake Albacutya(Ngelbakutya)
Lake Albacutya
(Ngelbakutya)
Location in Victoria
LocationAlbacutya, Victoria
Coordinates35°45′21″S 141°58′28″E / 35.75583°S 141.97444°E / -35.75583; 141.97444[1]
TypeEutrophic
Primary inflowsOutlet Creek
Primary outflowsOutlet Creek (when full); evaporation
Catchment area23,500 km2 (9,100 sq mi)
Basin countriesAustralia
Max. length13 km (8.1 mi)
Max. width5 km (3.1 mi)
Surface area55 km2 (21 sq mi)
Average depth8 m (26 ft)
Max. depth8 m (26 ft)
Water volume230 GL (5.1×1010 imp gal; 6.1×1010 US gal)
Designated15 December 1982
Reference no.270[2]

Lake Albacutya (Wergaia: Ngelbakutya)[3] is an ephemeral lake located in Albacutya within the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia. It is one of a series of terminal lakes on the Wimmera River, which form the largest land-locked drainage system in Victoria. Lake Albacutya is designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.[4]

Location and features

On the occasions that there is an overflow from Lake Hindmarsh to the south, water enters Outlet Creek, (Wergaia: Krumelak[3]) which then feeds Lake Albacutya. When full, Lake Albacutya covers 5,500 ha (14,000 acres), is 8 m (26 ft) deep, and holds around 230 gigalitres (8.1×109 cubic feet) of water.

The lake generally fills and empties on a 20-year cycle, the longest dry period on record being 27 years.[5] In 2011 it was reported that the lake had not received any inflow for some years and remained dry throughout the wetter years of 2011–2012.[6]

Being less saline than Lake Hindmarsh, Lake Albacutya supports a denser cover of vegetation during its dry phase.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Lake Albacutya". Vicnames. Victorian Government. 2 May 1966. Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Lake Albacutya". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  3. 1 2 Griffin, Darren; Muir, Ben. "Barringgi Gadyin – The Wimmera River and Wotjobaluk Connection to Country" (PDF). biolinksalliance.org.au. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  4. ↑ "Lake Albacutya". Department of Environment and Primary Industries. Victorian Government. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Lake Albacutya Park". Parks Victoria. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  6. ↑ Ker, Peter (25 January 2011). "Parched lake may end 15-year dry". The Age. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "Chapter 18 – Wimmera River Terminal Wetlands, Assessing environmental water requirements, July 2010 Prepared by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
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